I would describe my journey to higher education as unplanned but deeply fulfilling. At 25 years old, I made the decision to quit my job and return to school. My original plan was to earn a bachelor’s degree and then return to the corporate world to increase my income. However, that is not how things ultimately turned out. When I transferred to UCLA, I was exposed to a vast amount of knowledge I had not previously encountered. I was challenged to think critically and to analyze my life and the world around me in new ways. I was introduced to so many ideas that sparked a genuine desire in me to keep learning, reading, and growing. Education has been both liberating and empowering for me. As a first-generation immigrant Latina, I did not know anything about pursuing a Ph.D. However, during my time as an undergraduate and CCC graduate student researcher, Dimpal Jain introduced me to the idea of doctoral study and explained what a Ph.D. was — and I was immediately drawn to it. I became committed to being a lifelong learner, with the opportunity to conduct research and contribute to knowledge. My experience at UCLA was not always easy, but it prepared me to contribute to the world as a changemaker and an advocate for racial and social justice. Today, I am proud to be a strong Chicana, mother, leader, educator and practitioner.  

CCCP made the UCLA campus feel smaller and more manageable. When I transferred to UCLA from West Los Angeles College, I did not know anyone. As a first-generation student, navigating UCLA felt scary, intimidating, and exciting all at once. CCCP became home—it was where I built friendships and found mentors. It truly felt like family and provided a strong sense of belonging. As CCCP mentors, we worked hard supporting community college students while also managing our own academic responsibilities. Many of us used the office at night to write papers, support one another, and stay motivated. We encouraged each other through challenges and celebrated each other’s successes. CCCP fostered a strong sense of community and belonging. It helped me feel seen, supported, and grounded within a large university environment. 

Some of my most memorable experiences at UCLA include the opportunity to travel to Amsterdam in 2010 with several mentors and staff members. It was my first time visiting Amsterdam, where I presented at the Echo Awards/Conference and shared the mission of CCCP. The experience allowed me to learn about how higher education systems function in other countries and highlighted the important impact of CCCP’s work. I also met amazing people and had a lot of fun during the trip. It was truly a life-changing experience for me. I also had the opportunity to work on the initial Transfer Receptive Culture (TRC) framework. I interviewed participants in the study and helped document their experiences in CCCP. That work has since developed into a framework used in higher education, and I am proud to have been part of that project. Lastly, working with community college students has been deeply meaningful. Mentoring CCCP scholars has been incredibly fulfilling. Many of the students I worked with went on to transfer to four-year universities, pursue graduate school, and return to their communities to create change. 

As a first-generation immigrant Chicana, I feel very proud to have graduated from UCLA. My parents left their hometown of Puebla, Mexico in search of a better life, and I have always taken that sacrifice very seriously. I was determined to take full advantage of all the opportunities available to me. Graduating from UCLA represented not only a personal achievement, but also a milestone for my family and a step forward in a larger generational journey. For me, education has been both empowering and liberating, and I want the same for my son and the rest of my family. I was the first in my family to graduate from college, but I am not the last. My cousins have earned college degrees, and my nieces are also pursuing higher education. Jazmine is finishing her master’s in public health, and Samantha is a sophomore at USC. 

I work at UCLA and serve as the Assistant Director of the McNair Research Scholars Program. The goal of the program is to prepare first-generation and low-income students for graduate education. I am also an alumna of the program, and it feels incredibly meaningful to have returned to UCLA in this capacity. It is a privilege to mentor the next generation of researchers, faculty, and practitioners, and to support students as they prepare for graduate school and future academic and professional careers. 

Congratulations, CCCP! I look forward to celebrating your legacy and reconnecting with both current advisors and past mentors.